Tracy,
I appreciate your question and sharing your feelings of anxiety. Rest assured you are in good company in terms of test anxiety. Some of the strategies we will be sharing address self-regulation techniques that you might find helpful. I am going to suggest we can do both things, pace ourselves and read carefully, at the same time. It may sound counter-intuitive, but it actually works. I had the same response when I was studying for the exam, my mind was blanking on the questions and I was rushing to answer. When I finally acknowledged that I needed to slow my roll and actually read the question in a focused and intentional way, my pacing naturally followed. I hope that makes sense. Give it a try this coming week and see if that helps. Implement a mindfulness technique of intentional focus and let the clock take care of itself. You will get in the flow. If you overcome the blanking out part in terms of reading retention, you won't have to be as concerned with the time, because you are using your time more effectively. I hope this helps, please let us know!
------------------------------
Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN
School Nurse & Faculty
Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing
Camden City School District, NJ
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2021 13:42
From: Tracy Seth
Subject: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
My problem is to "slow down and read carefully" is opposite of the advise given to "pace yourself and allow approximately 1 minute per question!" For people like myself who often read the question more than once because my mind goes blank after reading it the first time, (anxiety I believe), the concept of a timed exam is OVERWHELMING. Do I slow down, or speed up to ensure completion?
Tracy N Seth MSN RN
Harlan Elementary
Original Message:
Sent: 6/1/2021 8:54:00 AM
From: Tiffany Ford
Subject: RE: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
so true Penny! Sometimes I tend to read fast, especially with timed exams. That one question serves as an example to slow down and read carefully....
------------------------------
Tiffany Ford
United States
Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2021 08:17
From: Penny Creel
Subject: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
I answered this wrong the first time also, and after reading the rationale realized the shallow breaths are not calming breaths. Easy to miss if we aren't reading each question carefully! Just that one word!
------------------------------
Penny Creel RN, BSN, CSN
School Nurse
HEDGESVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
United States
Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2021 11:52
From: Tiffany Ford
Subject: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
@ Sharon, I answered this question wrong when I took the practice test the first time.
As I reread the answers again, shallow breaths are not calming breaths. Calming breaths normally are deep breaths....I believe.
I've been searching for self-regulation concepts in the Comprehensive Text book, but haven't come across the topic yet.
Has anyone found more info on self-regulation concepts?
------------------------------
Tiffany Ford
United States
Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2021 11:39
From: Sharon Friedberg
Subject: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
So sorry Group, I meant Chapter 2 Practice Question #24 from the Certification Review book, on p. 24:
I think the rationale for the answer is contradictory. In the first sentence of the rationale, the author states that calming breaths (d) are a tool for self-regulation. Yet in the second sentence of the rationale, it is stated that answers a,b, and d (calming breaths) do not promote self-regulation.
------------------------------
Sharon Friedberg, BSN,RN
School Nurse
Robious Middle School
Midlothian, VA
Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2021 11:02
From: Wendy Sims
Subject: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
Hi Tammy, I am looking at Chpt 2 practice question #9.. This is asking about the nursing process. the rational is provided provided on page 31 & 32 and the answer to this question is provided on page 38 in the new school nurseing certification review book. Is this what you are referring too?
Thanks,
Wendy
------------------------------
Wendy Sims
United States
Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2021 10:05
From: Sharon Friedberg
Subject: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
Good morning all,
Can we start discussing the Chapter 2 content at this time? Or is that supposed to happen next week? I just want to ask about Chapter 2 Practice Question #9, found on page 37. I think the rationale for the answer is contradictory. In the first sentence of the rationale, the author states that calming breaths (d) are a tool for self-regulation. Yet in the second sentence of the rationale, it is stated that answers a,b, and d (calming breaths) do not promote self-regulation. Does anybody else see the problem with this?
------------------------------
Sharon Friedberg, BSN,RN
School Nurse
Robious Middle School
Midlothian, VA
Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2021 05:00
From: Robin Cogan
Subject: Welcome to Week #2 of our online study group
Welcome to Week #2 of our study group!
We are moving full-steam ahead in preparation for the upcoming Spring exam window. It is energizing to see how many school nurses have joined the group and are
for your comments and clarification on important questions raised. Your suggestion to share our nursing journeys was wonderful and the contributions from the school nurses have been fascinating to read! Thanks to all who are participating in this group. We are off to a great start!
Suggested Reading for Week #2, we are digging deeper into Chapter 2 of the Review book. We introduced it last week, but with so much to absorb, we believe that focusing on this Chapter by itself this week will give you all space to review and get used to the pacing of the online study group. We will not be repeating other chapters, it only happens in this week as a way to ease you into setting your study time, plus it's a holiday weekend ;).
Selekman, Cogan: School Nursing Certification Review book Chapter 2:
Foundations of Pediatric Nursing Children and Their Families
I Growth and Development
II Foundations of School Nursing Practice
This comprises 27% of the exam.
Selekman, Shannon and Yonkaitis School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text 3rd Edition Chapters
1-4 and 11-13:
1. Foundations of School Nursing Practice Chapters 1-4
2. Growth and Development Chapters 11-13
Recommended contribution to the group for Week #2: Doesn't that sound better
than assignment ;).
Share your outcomes with the group this week. Comment on what surprised you about the process, what you learned, and what resources you chose to reinforce areas that needed more focused attention. How are you staying motivated this week?
As promised, here are some test-taking tips specifically geared towards multiple-choice
Nursing exam questions! (11 Test-Taking Tips & Strategies For Nurses * Nurseslabs)
1. Read Questions Carefully
Scores on tests are greatly affected by reading ability. In answering a test item,
you should begin by carefully reading the stem and then asking yourself the
following questions:
What is the question really asking?
Are there any keywords?
What is information relevant to answering this question included in the stem?
How would I ask this question in my own words?
How would I answer this question in my own words?
After you have answered these questions, carefully read the options and then ask
yourself the following questions:
Is there an option that is similar to my answer?
Is this option the best, most complete answer to the question?
Deal with the question as it is stated, without reading anything into it, or
making assumptions about it. Answer the question asked, not the one you would like to
answer. For simple recall items, the self-questioning process usually will be completed
quickly. For more complex items the self-questioning process may take longer, but it
should assist you in clarifying the item and selecting the best response.
2. Identify Keywords
Certain keywords in the stem, the options, or both should alert you to the need
for caution in choosing your answer. Because few things are absolute without
exception, avoid selecting answers that include words such as always, never, all, every,
only, must, no, except, and none. Answers containing these keywords are rarely correct
because they place special limitations and qualifications on potentially correct answers.
For example:
All of the following are services of the National Kidney Foundation except:
1. Public education programs
2. Research about kidney disease
3. Fund-raising affairs for research activities
4. Identification of potential transplant recipients
This stem contains two keywords: all and except. They limit the correct answer choice
to the one option that does not represent a service of the National Kidney Foundation.
When except, not, or a phrase such as all but one of the following appears in the stem,
the inappropriate option is the correct answer in this instance, option 4.
If the options in an item do not seem to make sense because more than one option
is correct, reread the question; you may have missed one of the keywords in the stem.
Also, be on guard when you see one of the keywords in an option; it may limit
the context in which such an option would be correct.
Here is a free "Test Taking Strategies" course from NurseBuilders:
Test Taking Techniques - A Guide For Nursing Certification
Check out the Exam Prep Materials on www.nbcsn.org.
Happy digging in and learning! Keep us posted on your progress!
------------------------------
Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN
School Nurse & Faculty
Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing
Camden City School District, NJ
------------------------------